Crescent Dragonwagon: Yes, her name is real. First married to Crispin Dragonwagon in 1970, the author retained this pen name following their divorce. A prolific author, Dragonwagon produces adult fiction and nonfiction as well as children's works.

Born November 25, 1952, in New York City with two authors for parents, she grew up in a household where writing To Take a Dare 4161 was a normal part of life. Her mother, Charlotte Zolotow, has authored many children's books. Dragonwagon left school at age sixteen but an intense self-designed reading program helped her educate herself in a manner like that of her heroine, Chrysta, in To Take a Dare. The book reflects some of the author's own experiences in the "hippie" lifestyle of the 1970s. She describes her collaboration with author Paul Zindel in most complimentary terms. Although the majority of the writing is her own, Dragonwagon credits Zindel with helping motivate...